we're learning that from white house officials that that conversation between president obama and president vladimir putin of russia did take place at some point today. the topic of conversations including syria, where the president expressed concerns over syrian chemical weapons. obviously russia would be a critical ally if the u.s. is to pursue some further intervention in terms of the crisis taking place, the civil war in that country. white house officials telling us the president urged there to be close consultations continuing between secretary of state john minister on this very topic. one of many topics the two men spoke about this afternoon. >> pete, given quite understandable reluctance to engage in yet another military conflict, there now some regret that while the administration obviously had a red line in their minds about syria, that they may now regret having said so publicly? >> reporter: i think there may be privately some regret that this is playing out the way that it is. obviously, the fact that that line was drawn so clearly, so firmly in the sand obviously adds a layer